Penn State's WPSU-TV has a great little story on The Church on the Turnpike. It's from the "Where's Charlie?" segment of Pennsylvania Inside Out.
http://streams.wpsx.psu.edu/Turnpike_Church09182.html
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Slight delay in finalization of SCDOT/SCDNR I-73 deal
Nothing like a day off to catch up with the blog...
Earlier this month, the final approval of the $750,000 deal between SCDOT and the SC Department of Natural Resources was pushed back to December 11. The reason? The paperwork from the deal was not received by the State Budget and Control Board on time.
It appears the delay in paperwork is from a final appraisal of the land. The appraisal is required by state law.
The land in question is 30 acres of the Little Pee Dee River Heritage Preserve at SC 917. Interstate 73 is planned cross the river at this point. The DNR agreed that this crossing would have the least amount of damage to the environment. The DNR plans to use $750,000, which will come out of I-73 funding, to purchase land with a similar habitat to replace the 30 acres lost by the Interstate.
Story: DNR deal for I-73 delayed --Myrtle Beach Sun News
Earlier this month, the final approval of the $750,000 deal between SCDOT and the SC Department of Natural Resources was pushed back to December 11. The reason? The paperwork from the deal was not received by the State Budget and Control Board on time.
It appears the delay in paperwork is from a final appraisal of the land. The appraisal is required by state law.
The land in question is 30 acres of the Little Pee Dee River Heritage Preserve at SC 917. Interstate 73 is planned cross the river at this point. The DNR agreed that this crossing would have the least amount of damage to the environment. The DNR plans to use $750,000, which will come out of I-73 funding, to purchase land with a similar habitat to replace the 30 acres lost by the Interstate.
Story: DNR deal for I-73 delayed --Myrtle Beach Sun News
SC gets green light to toll I-95...could I-26 be next?
South Carolina has recently received approval from the federal government to add tolls to Interstate 95 and appears to be considering the same for Interstate 26. However, the state has no current plans to go forward with the tolling on either highway.
The approval which comes after an August request by SCDOT to gain permission to toll the Interstate. The request was part of the "Corridors to the Future" program. South Carolina was not the only state to request tolling Interstate 95. It appears that Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida made similar requests as well.
Rumors of when, how, and where Interstate 95 will be tolled seem to be widespread throughout the state. A November 15th story in the Greenville News said that the tolling of I-95 could begin in the Spring of 2008. Quoting SC Secretary of Transportation Buck Limehouse the article stated that the tolls would be placed on newly constructed 'hot lanes', which are added tolled express lanes. Motorists willing to pay a toll would use the new highway lanes.
To my knowledge, there are no plans for new 'express lanes' on I-95. My guess is that "Spring 2008" means SCDOT will take a more detailed look at a toll option then.
Pete Poore, who is SCDOT's communications director, said that the tolls would go to "refurbishment and maintenance" and that the tolling option is another "tool in the box" of funding options for SCDOT.
One other story came out of the Greenville News article, the state seems to be looking at tolling I-26...or at least applying for permission. In that article, Limehouse said, "We're looking at I-26 for the same thing because that's where all the truck traffic comes up to Greenville. It's a parking lot right now and it's dangerous."
It was later clarified that the possible tolls would be between Columbia and Charleston.
In the case of I-26, the state has no federal permission to toll Interstate 26.
Stories:
I-95 gets OK for tolls -South Carolina Now
State gets federal OK to charge tolls on I-95; I-26 next -Greenville News
Commentary:
So the state, which may toll Interstate 73, has the OK to toll I-95 and may start this spring, but has no plans to toll the highway nor the 'express lanes' to even charge tolls. Then they may toll I-26 but they don't have federal approval. They need it to Greenville but now only Columbia to Charleston.
Confused yet? It's ok, I had to read both stories a few time to make sense of it too!
What does all this mean - nothing. The state got an OK to toll I-95 but they are also competing with other states to be part of a pilot program to toll previously free interstates. They don't have the ability to toll the highway at this time. Nor do they have the 'express/hot lanes' for the tolls to be placed on either.
Don't forget you'd have to go through right of way acquisition for an over 180 mile highway and everything else that goes along with it.
Interstate 26 - I think Limehouse didn't think first as it appears that SCDOT had to scramble to explain what he meant. SCDOT has no approval to even consider tolling Interstate 26 and even more they haven't submitted an application to do it.
So, in short, the facts are this. SCDOT is looking at tolling various interstates as a funding option to improve and expand their highway system. They are only in the beginning stages of this even becoming a reality and there are a lot of hurdles not only within the federal and state bureaucracy but everything else from private citizen's land to environmental groups to anti-tolling groups to whatever else you want to name.
The approval which comes after an August request by SCDOT to gain permission to toll the Interstate. The request was part of the "Corridors to the Future" program. South Carolina was not the only state to request tolling Interstate 95. It appears that Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida made similar requests as well.
Rumors of when, how, and where Interstate 95 will be tolled seem to be widespread throughout the state. A November 15th story in the Greenville News said that the tolling of I-95 could begin in the Spring of 2008. Quoting SC Secretary of Transportation Buck Limehouse the article stated that the tolls would be placed on newly constructed 'hot lanes', which are added tolled express lanes. Motorists willing to pay a toll would use the new highway lanes.
To my knowledge, there are no plans for new 'express lanes' on I-95. My guess is that "Spring 2008" means SCDOT will take a more detailed look at a toll option then.
Pete Poore, who is SCDOT's communications director, said that the tolls would go to "refurbishment and maintenance" and that the tolling option is another "tool in the box" of funding options for SCDOT.
One other story came out of the Greenville News article, the state seems to be looking at tolling I-26...or at least applying for permission. In that article, Limehouse said, "We're looking at I-26 for the same thing because that's where all the truck traffic comes up to Greenville. It's a parking lot right now and it's dangerous."
It was later clarified that the possible tolls would be between Columbia and Charleston.
In the case of I-26, the state has no federal permission to toll Interstate 26.
Stories:
I-95 gets OK for tolls -South Carolina Now
State gets federal OK to charge tolls on I-95; I-26 next -Greenville News
Commentary:
So the state, which may toll Interstate 73, has the OK to toll I-95 and may start this spring, but has no plans to toll the highway nor the 'express lanes' to even charge tolls. Then they may toll I-26 but they don't have federal approval. They need it to Greenville but now only Columbia to Charleston.
Confused yet? It's ok, I had to read both stories a few time to make sense of it too!
What does all this mean - nothing. The state got an OK to toll I-95 but they are also competing with other states to be part of a pilot program to toll previously free interstates. They don't have the ability to toll the highway at this time. Nor do they have the 'express/hot lanes' for the tolls to be placed on either.
Don't forget you'd have to go through right of way acquisition for an over 180 mile highway and everything else that goes along with it.
Interstate 26 - I think Limehouse didn't think first as it appears that SCDOT had to scramble to explain what he meant. SCDOT has no approval to even consider tolling Interstate 26 and even more they haven't submitted an application to do it.
So, in short, the facts are this. SCDOT is looking at tolling various interstates as a funding option to improve and expand their highway system. They are only in the beginning stages of this even becoming a reality and there are a lot of hurdles not only within the federal and state bureaucracy but everything else from private citizen's land to environmental groups to anti-tolling groups to whatever else you want to name.
Sue Myrick adds her two cents on I-485 delays
This time it is U.S. Representative Sue Myrick.
Myrick, a former mayor of Charlotte, wrote a letter to NC Governor Mike Easley and the NC Department of Transportation voicing her displeasure with the additional delays in completing Interstate 485.
"Last I looked, Charlotte was the largest city in the state. There seems to be no recognition of that fact in Raleigh, no recognition that we are at a standstill with traffic.”
She pointed to how Raleigh already has one loop built (The Raleigh Beltline) and is now constructing a second loop (Interstate/NC 540) while Charlotte does not have one.
Note to Myrick: What is I-277 then? It's a loop albeit around Uptown but serves a similar purpose to the Raleigh Beltline.
The DOT counters Myrick and points out how Charlotte has received nearly $1 billion to build I-485 more than any other urban loop within the state.
With NCDOT holding public hearings on the 2009-2015 STIP this winter expect more statements like Rep. Myrick from political leaders and other influential groups throughout the state.
Story: Myrick demands more money for roads ---News 14 Carolina (Charlotte)
Myrick, a former mayor of Charlotte, wrote a letter to NC Governor Mike Easley and the NC Department of Transportation voicing her displeasure with the additional delays in completing Interstate 485.
"Why didn't these same rising costs delay the loops in Fayetteville and Wilmington? Why are we building loops in Fayetteville and Wilmington before we complete the one in Charlotte?"
Myrick also commented on what she perceives as Charlotte's needs being ignored by legislators in Raleigh."Last I looked, Charlotte was the largest city in the state. There seems to be no recognition of that fact in Raleigh, no recognition that we are at a standstill with traffic.”
She pointed to how Raleigh already has one loop built (The Raleigh Beltline) and is now constructing a second loop (Interstate/NC 540) while Charlotte does not have one.
Note to Myrick: What is I-277 then? It's a loop albeit around Uptown but serves a similar purpose to the Raleigh Beltline.
The DOT counters Myrick and points out how Charlotte has received nearly $1 billion to build I-485 more than any other urban loop within the state.
With NCDOT holding public hearings on the 2009-2015 STIP this winter expect more statements like Rep. Myrick from political leaders and other influential groups throughout the state.
Story: Myrick demands more money for roads ---News 14 Carolina (Charlotte)
Monday, November 19, 2007
Two more Wilmington Videos - US 117 and US 74/76
Joe's got two new video's.
The Southern End of US 117 in Wilmington.
and US 74/76 East entering Wilmington including the Cape Fear River Draw Bridge.
The Southern End of US 117 in Wilmington.
and US 74/76 East entering Wilmington including the Cape Fear River Draw Bridge.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Just a Fall Drive
Took a small trip this afternoon around the area. Part of which was to get photos of Old NC 21 for Mike Roberson.
Route: NC 50, Old Creedmoor Road, NC 50, NC 56, NC 39, NC 42, US 264, US 117, US 264, I-540.
Accomplishments: New mileage on NC 42.
The leaves came out later than normal this year...and the past few days have been brilliant color. However, on Thursday we had a rain and windstorm come through and knocked down a good amount of the leaves. Still, there are plenty of great fall scenes out there. Like this one off of Old Creedmoor Road.
Just north of here and back on NC 50 is an old alignment of NC 21. This old alignment, still gravel, is decades old from when NC 50 was NC 21. The gravel road winds about a half mile or so before returning to pavement when it reaches Beaver Dam Road.
In Franklinton, NC 56 meets US 1-A. What's interesting is the design of the hyphen. The ends are slanted...and you can see it clearly in the photo below.
I am gonna go forward with the Carolina Crossroads Project...how can you not when you come across places like Raynour, NC.
Stopped for lunch in Bunn, NC. And I am glad I did, first Bunn has some older NC shields. But more interesting was the rural small town feel especially the Winstead Grocery & General Merchandise store.
South of Bunn at the tiny crossroad community of Emit (NC 39/231) was a great old crossroads gas station and corner store.
I headed out NC 42 East to Wilson to just see if any of Interstate 795 had been signed. It hasn't. But here are two decent sign shots from the road.
Nothing to eventful on the way home. Hopefully, I-795 will be signed by next Saturday when a few of us take an 'official' scouting road trip on the newly designated Interstate.
Route: NC 50, Old Creedmoor Road, NC 50, NC 56, NC 39, NC 42, US 264, US 117, US 264, I-540.
Accomplishments: New mileage on NC 42.
The leaves came out later than normal this year...and the past few days have been brilliant color. However, on Thursday we had a rain and windstorm come through and knocked down a good amount of the leaves. Still, there are plenty of great fall scenes out there. Like this one off of Old Creedmoor Road.
Just north of here and back on NC 50 is an old alignment of NC 21. This old alignment, still gravel, is decades old from when NC 50 was NC 21. The gravel road winds about a half mile or so before returning to pavement when it reaches Beaver Dam Road.
In Franklinton, NC 56 meets US 1-A. What's interesting is the design of the hyphen. The ends are slanted...and you can see it clearly in the photo below.
I am gonna go forward with the Carolina Crossroads Project...how can you not when you come across places like Raynour, NC.
Stopped for lunch in Bunn, NC. And I am glad I did, first Bunn has some older NC shields. But more interesting was the rural small town feel especially the Winstead Grocery & General Merchandise store.
South of Bunn at the tiny crossroad community of Emit (NC 39/231) was a great old crossroads gas station and corner store.
I headed out NC 42 East to Wilson to just see if any of Interstate 795 had been signed. It hasn't. But here are two decent sign shots from the road.
Nothing to eventful on the way home. Hopefully, I-795 will be signed by next Saturday when a few of us take an 'official' scouting road trip on the newly designated Interstate.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Wilmington Videos - I-140 and US 76
A new twist to the blog tonight...videos.
An old friend of mine Joe Babyak took some road videos recently down in Wilmington.
First, the entire signed length of I-140:
And finally, the Eastern End of US 76:
Joe plans on taking more videos so keep an eye out for them.
An old friend of mine Joe Babyak took some road videos recently down in Wilmington.
First, the entire signed length of I-140:
And finally, the Eastern End of US 76:
Joe plans on taking more videos so keep an eye out for them.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Hey, if you can't drive on it...why not use it in the movies
So you have an unused four lane highway just sitting there empty and in some cases for nearly eight years. You know, it's just waiting for a few bridges and a big interchange to be built. So what can you do with it. Use it for movies!
And that's exactly what the WV Film Office wants to do. The WV Film Office is actively pursuing various video production outfits to use the empty freeway in their films, television shows, or music videos.
The WVDOH has no issue with the freeway being used for video shoots as long as the proper permits were acquired and the filming would not interfere with the ongoing construction of the highway.
So it is quite possible that you will actually see the West Virginia portion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway on TV or the big screen before anyone will be able to drive it.
Story & Video: WBOY-TV
And that's exactly what the WV Film Office wants to do. The WV Film Office is actively pursuing various video production outfits to use the empty freeway in their films, television shows, or music videos.
The WVDOH has no issue with the freeway being used for video shoots as long as the proper permits were acquired and the filming would not interfere with the ongoing construction of the highway.
So it is quite possible that you will actually see the West Virginia portion of the Mon-Fayette Expressway on TV or the big screen before anyone will be able to drive it.
Story & Video: WBOY-TV
Sunday, November 04, 2007
On cue...Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Officials Voice Displeasure over I-485 Delays
Right on cue, various Charlotte and Mecklenburg County officials have voiced their displeasure over the proposed funding delays to Interstate 485 and other highway projects.
The responses vary from blaming poor politics to calls to reform NCDOT, but the common theme was disappointment in construction delays for badly needed highway projects in a growing city.
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory said that the delays "...smells of bad politics." McCrory who sent a highly critical letter to Governor Mike Easily pointing out that instead of completing freeway loops that have been underway for years, more loops get added to the list.
McCrory was especially displeased that two loops, Wilmington and Fayetteville, have been added and seen construction since the Charlotte loop began in the 1990s. He was also unhappy that the Fayetteville loop did not see the amount of delays that Charlotte or other North Carolina cities received.
McCrory told the Charlotte Observer, "Fayetteville and Wilmington just happened to not be exempted which was a clear perception of politics being such an influential part of how road and transportation money is spent in North Carolina at the expense of areas that have congestion."
Note to Mayor McCrory: The Fayetteville Loop, like the Charlotte Loop, has been discussed for decades. It just didn't appear out of nowhere and gobbled up all the money.
McCrory's challenger for Charlotte Mayor, Beverly Earle, was "outraged" at the delay and called for the restructuring of NCDOT.
A few years ago, Charlotte and Mecklenburg officials were able to push forward plans to widen I-485 in Southern Mecklenburg County from post-years (which is beyond the six year funding window) to 2013. The move pushed back the start of construction of the final piece of I-485 from 2010 to 2013. Now both projects have been pushed back to begin, at the earliest, in 2015.
The responses vary from blaming poor politics to calls to reform NCDOT, but the common theme was disappointment in construction delays for badly needed highway projects in a growing city.
Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory said that the delays "...smells of bad politics." McCrory who sent a highly critical letter to Governor Mike Easily pointing out that instead of completing freeway loops that have been underway for years, more loops get added to the list.
McCrory was especially displeased that two loops, Wilmington and Fayetteville, have been added and seen construction since the Charlotte loop began in the 1990s. He was also unhappy that the Fayetteville loop did not see the amount of delays that Charlotte or other North Carolina cities received.
McCrory told the Charlotte Observer, "Fayetteville and Wilmington just happened to not be exempted which was a clear perception of politics being such an influential part of how road and transportation money is spent in North Carolina at the expense of areas that have congestion."
Note to Mayor McCrory: The Fayetteville Loop, like the Charlotte Loop, has been discussed for decades. It just didn't appear out of nowhere and gobbled up all the money.
McCrory's challenger for Charlotte Mayor, Beverly Earle, was "outraged" at the delay and called for the restructuring of NCDOT.
A few years ago, Charlotte and Mecklenburg officials were able to push forward plans to widen I-485 in Southern Mecklenburg County from post-years (which is beyond the six year funding window) to 2013. The move pushed back the start of construction of the final piece of I-485 from 2010 to 2013. Now both projects have been pushed back to begin, at the earliest, in 2015.
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